Injuries in poultry processing plants on the decline

Workplace injuries within US poultry processing facilities have declined 42% between 2002 and 2009, according to figures in an annual US Bureau of Labor Statistics report.

The number of nonfatal injuries stood at 17,800 in 2002, an average of 6.9 incidents per 100 workers. In 2009 number there was a total of 10,400 injuries for the year, or 4.4 incidences per 100 workers.

“The dramatic reduction in recordable injuries and illnesses is not surprising when you consider that over the past 25 years the industry has put considerable emphasis not only on complying with safety regulations but also on proactively tackling safety challenges,” said Craig Wyvill, retired division chief of the Georgia Tech Research Institute’s Food Processing Technology division.

“The industry’s efforts have changed the way safety is handled in processing plants today.”

The full report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics can be found here